Editorial: Patrick enters the home stretch

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The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

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Posted Jan. 29, 2014 at 11:04 PM
Updated Jan 30, 2014 at 4:24 PM

Posted Jan. 29, 2014 at 11:04 PM
Updated Jan 30, 2014 at 4:24 PM

» Social News

Gov. Deval Patrick said it was no time for a valedictory, but everyone in the House chamber Tuesday night knew it was the last "state of the commonwealth" speech he’ll deliver. Most of the speech - from the recitation of accomplishments, to a curtain call for his wife Diane, to an expression of gratitude and surprise at how much "fun" the job has been – had the feel of a victory lap.

One thing about serving two full terms in the governor’s office – a rarity in recent Massachusetts politics - is you can come up with a long list of good things to take credit for. Patrick made a strong case for the progress made since he took office seven years ago, including this paragraph, which should send the fact-checkers to the data-banks:

"Today, Massachusetts is first in the nation in student achievement, in health care coverage, in economic competitiveness, in entrepreneurial activity, in venture funding, in energy efficiency and in veterans’ services."

Patrick’s themes were familiar. He’s been talking about education, innovation and infrastructure for years. We suspect much of his final year will be spent executing on previous’ years’ initiatives. He’s been announcing millions in state grants lately, delivering the specifics on transportation investments and other programs already approved.

As for new business, Patrick pushed for items already high on the agenda of legislative leaders. He wants to raise the minimum wage, an item the Senate has already passed. He pushed in general terms for reforms in the state’s unemployment compensation system, which House Speaker Robert DeLeo plans to attach to the minimum wage hike.

Given the similarities and friendship between Patrick and Barack Obama, we weren’t surprised by the common themes in their back-to-back speeches. Both stressed income inequality and economic justice. So we wondered why the governor didn’t borrow a page from the president’s State of the Union speech. Obama promised an executive order raising the minimum wage for all who work under federal contracts. Massachusetts contracts with companies that employ thousands of low-wage workers: food service workers in state university cafeterias, janitors in state office buildings, direct care workers hired by social services agencies. How about giving them a raise?

Patrick touched briefly, if at all, on several recent failures in state government: The Department of Public Health chemist whose false reports jeopardized thousands of criminal cases; the lax oversight of compounding pharmacies which contributed to dozens of deaths; problems at the Department of Children and Families exposed by the disappearance of a Fitchburg 5-year-old; the continuing problems with the state’s new health care website. Patrick promised to address the problems "soberly and thoughtfully," but we’d have liked to hear some of his thoughts on how factors affecting his administration – turnover, lack of focus or the thinning-out of middle management forced by tight budgets – may have contributed to poor supervision and accountability.

Page 2 of 2 - Patrick seems aware that his days in office and his clout with the Legislature are dwindling. He must make the most of them by cementing the progress that has been made and tightening oversight of state government before it’s time to turn it over to his successor.